QUEENS, N.Y. (March 26, 2011) – St. John’s used hat tricks from three different players along with a strong defensive effort to run to victory over Sacred Heart, 15-7, in lacrosse action at DaSilva Memorial Field on Saturday afternoon.

Freshmen Kevin Cernuto led St. John’s (2-6, 0-1) with five points, tying his career high with four goals to go with one assist. ClassmateKieran McArdle tallied his third hat trick of the season with three goals, all in the first half, and one assist. Sophomore defensive midfielderBrandon Ayers smashed his previous career bests by netting three goals on four shots.

Sacred Heart (3-5, 0-0) was led by a hat trick from Mike Mawdsley while Bryan Badolato scored two goals.

St. John’s forced 24 Sacred Heart turnovers while holding a 33-23 edge in ground balls. The Red Storm also outshot the Pioneers 42-31, including 27 shots on goal.

After giving up the game’s opening goal to Sacred Heart’s Mawdsley at the 10:40 mark, the Red Storm scored three straight goals in a four minute stretch to establish a 3-1 lead that the team never relinquished.

Freshman Keith Switzer scored St. John’s first goal off an assist from Charlie Holenstein in a man-up opportunity at the 8:49 mark. McArdle followed that strike with his own goal, dodging from behind the net to give St. John’s the lead. Holenstein capped the run with a score at the 4:21 mark off an assist from Cernuto.

Both teams combined for four goals over the last four minutes of the quarter, making the score 5-3 at the end of the first. Cernuto and McArdle accounted for the two Red Storm goals while defensive midfielder Dan Kalata assisted on one score for his first point of the season.

The Red Storm defense stiffened in the second quarter, holding the Pioneers scoreless and allowing only three shots.

Senior captain and close defender Mike Sherry excited the crowd at the beginning of the period by racing the ball upfield on a clear attempt and passing to McArdle positioned at the edge of the crease who shot the ball passed the goaltender. The assist marked Sherry’s first point of the season.

Two minutes later, Brandon Ayers scored his first of three goals to increase the Red Storm lead before Cernuto capped the quarter with his second goal, putting St. John’s up 8-3 at halftime.

Although Sacred Heart scored two of the first three goals of the third period, St. John’s was never threatened down the stretch as the offense exploded for four goals in the final minutes of the quarter. Cernuto, Holenstein, Brandon Ayers and Switzer all found the net in the run.

The St. John’s reserves saw the field in the final quarter as freshman Tommy Cox played nearly eight minutes in goal, making one save and allowing one goal. Brandon Ayers scored his third goal of the game in the quarter, while senior Ryan Herits also netted a score.

Five different Red Storm players picked up three or more ground balls, led by senior Dan Cremens who picked up a game-high five ground balls while causing a career-best four turnovers. Sherry picked up four ground balls while long-stick midfielder Dillon Ayers also fielded four ground balls.

The Red Storm will travel to the New Meadowlands Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J., next Sunday, April 3, for a 1 p.m. matchup with Rutgers in the Konica Minolta Big City Classic.